Epic Entrepreneurs
Welcome to Epic Entrepreneurs! What does it take to build a real and thriving business in today’s world? As entrepreneurs and business owners, we went into business to have more freedom of time and money. Yet, the path of growing a business isn’t always filled with sunshine and rainbows. In this chart-topping show, host Bill Gilliland; author of the best-selling book “The Coach Approach” leverages his decades of experience coaching proven entrepreneurs to make more money, grow the right teams, and find the freedom of EPIC Entrepreneurship.
Epic Entrepreneurs
How A Refinishing Business Delivers Affordable Home Restoration with Armando Garcia
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Most people think entrepreneurship starts with a big idea. Armando Garcia’s story starts with something more grounded: taking damaged surfaces and making them look new again, then deciding to bet on himself and buy the Miracle Method franchise. We sit down and talk through that shift from technician to owner, what changed in his mindset, and why the support and training of a nationwide franchise can be the bridge between being great at the craft and being solid at running the business.
We also get honest about the parts nobody glamorizes. Armando breaks down the “you own a business so you must be rich” myth, the reality that it takes money to make money, and the business skills he wishes every new owner learned sooner, especially bookkeeping, accounting basics, and financial management. From there we go into the day-to-day pressure of leadership: how to plan a vacation when you’re still essential to operations, how to mentally shut down at night, and how faith and family help him keep stress in check without losing momentum.
If you care about building a team that customers trust, this conversation delivers. Armando explains why work ethic beats a polished resume, what professionalism looks like in a customer-facing trade, and how he keeps a positive, motivated culture by treating mistakes as fixable and treating the team like family. We also look at what’s next for Miracle Method Charlotte, including bath safety upgrades for elderly and handicap customers, cabinet refacing, and the sustainability benefit of restoring instead of replacing and sending materials to landfills.
Subscribe for more real small business growth stories, share this with an owner who needs a push, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. What’s one myth about business ownership you want to see retired for good?
Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/
All the best!
Bill
Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/
Hello everyone. I hope everyone's having a great day. So welcome to the quick episode of Epic Entrepreneurs. I am Cliff McRae with Action Coach Business Growth Partners, where we work with local business owners to turn big ideas into real scalable growth. Today I'm excited to be joined by Armando Garcia with Miracle Method. Uh Armando, thanks for being here. How are you doing today?
SPEAKER_01I'm doing great, sir. Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, we're excited to have you. So let's go ahead and jump right into things. Uh, for those of you who may not know it yet, who are you? Who is Armando Garcia and what is Miracle Method?
Welcome And Service Overview
SPEAKER_01Well, Armando Garcia is an actual past technician for Miracle Method, believe it or not. And uh during my my time with Miracle Method as a technician, I was offered the opportunity to purchase it and continue the business. So I took the challenge on and here we are. Now, as far as Miracle Method, what Miracle Method um is, we are basically a budget-friendly option to replacement. Anything from countertops, bathtubs, tile, garage floors, anything that can take a coating, we can pretty much apply it. Hello?
SPEAKER_00Can you hear me, Armando?
SPEAKER_01Yes, sir. I can now. It it went Oh okay.
SPEAKER_00Oh wow, that was weird. I was I'm over here talking, having a whole conversation with myself. I'm sorry about that. Oh man. Yeah, you didn't hear anything I just said. Yeah, I'm sorry. I was muted. I'm sorry about that. Yeah, because I was pouring me some water. I'm sorry about that. But uh yeah, yeah. So what I was saying was um, you know, take me back to the very beginning. You know, I know you kind of said you you purchased a company. Well, what made you go from that transition to being a worker to purchasing a company?
SPEAKER_01Well, it was basically being able to take something that was damaged and being able to restore it and make it new again. So that was one of my main focuses. It was more of taking pride in you know restoring something and making it look nice.
Technician To Business Owner
SPEAKER_00Making it look nice, okay, okay. So let's say you had to start again from absolute scratch, you know, you had no brand, no clients, no safety net. What would you do differently the second time around with owning your business?
SPEAKER_01In the same business without having a safety net or training per se, of course, there would be a lot of time invested in learning this trade because we do such a wide range of restoration in what we do. So that's a very difficult question because I didn't come into this until after I was already trained and prepared for this. But how would I start this business again? The one of the key things of this business was the simple fact of the you have the support. It's basically a family type support system with Miracle Method because it is a franchise. That is the one thing that I did not include. It is a nationwide company and they offer a lot of support. They have their home office in Colorado Springs and they have a training facility there. They prepare you with everything that you need to be able to support the business and also represent the brand correctly. So me as coming from the actual technical side and not as a business owner, that was exactly what I needed to be able to start teaching me the actual business side of it versus just the technical side.
SPEAKER_00Okay, okay. So, you know, I and and obviously this is, you know, you can let me know if this is true or not, but are you more of an entrepreneur or an employee at heart?
SPEAKER_01Well, at the beginning, I will say I started off as an employee at heart, but now due to their help and support, I've been able to start transitioning over to the entrepreneurial side. So it's taught me, it's taken me from basically rock bottom to where I currently am now. And it's it's all business growth at the end. And it's it's opened my mind to other opportunities that could in the close future um happen for us as well, whether it be real estate or some other ventures that my other members here in our company are seeking. So it definitely has groomed me to be more of an entrepreneur versus just an employee.
SPEAKER_00Okay, okay. So what would you say is a lesson you learned the hard way as a business owner that no one really prepares you for?
SPEAKER_01There are certain trainings that I think you should take part of prior to starting a business. Management of the finances, for example, bookkeeping, being having some type of certification and accounting, a business, a business type education would be extremely helpful at the start of the business. That way you
Franchise Support And Learning Business
SPEAKER_01know how to manage everything. But that would be the only thing I would change from the very beginning. That would have been something I would have pursued to get a little more of a clear understanding of business.
SPEAKER_00Understood, understood. So, what would you say is one common myth people believe about running a business that makes you laugh now when you hear it?
SPEAKER_01The thing I hear very often, you own a business, you're swimming in money.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, where's the Lamborghini? Where's the Bugatti? Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. And you're saying that's it's not the case?
SPEAKER_01Well, I I have no complaints. I'm I'm well off. I'm thankful for what I have. God's been good to me. But in the sense of swimming and wealth and you know, and stuff of that nature, no, that is incorrect. It takes it takes time, it takes a lot of effort to build that type of lifestyle. And at the end of the day, it takes money to make money.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's true. That is very true. It's kind of hard to make money if you're not putting anything into it.
SPEAKER_01That is that's right. And but Miracle Method, that's the one key thing about it. They they're constantly innovating, bringing new products into the mix and helping us to be able to try to get to those other to be able to reach your goal, I guess is the better way putting it financially, but also in in the whole process teaching you how to expand, how to grow.
SPEAKER_00So, you know, how do you personally handle stepping away from the business, you know, like taking a vacation? Or is that even a thing?
SPEAKER_01It is a thing, but it it is you you do have to strategize, of course. I mean, because I do at this point in time, I'm not at my exit strategy. So I do, I am participant of the day-to-days with the business, but I have key people in place that we all basically help each other out. Not only vacations, I mean, illness can come about, you know, spur of the moment, and you're not, you don't necessarily plan for it. So that's what our team members do. We all pitch in and we help and hock up everybody in the office or on the field when things are are required. So if I need a vacation, I plan it ahead of time, of course. Give them plenty of uh heads up, and then they cover my position while I'm gone. But they also keep me informed on the day-to-days if something happens or if I'm needed for something, they will communicate with me as well.
SPEAKER_00So, how do you personally handle you know stepping away at night? Are you uh uh 7 p.m., you're hard shut off, I'm not taking any more calls, not answering any more emails, or are you working around the clock seven days a week?
SPEAKER_01Um I think as a business owner, I don't think it ever stops mentally, but I can shut it off. I mean, the business is priority in the sense that I have multiple people that are,
The Money Myth Of Ownership
SPEAKER_01you know, relying on me to provide. But I can shut it off as well because I have a I have a family, I have a wife and kids, and of course my parents. So I do shut it off to be able to also spend time with them and you know have the quality family time as well. I I've learned that the hard way. It it's taken me a while to be able to get to that stage. At the beginning, it wasn't. But now, thankfully, so we've been able to organize everything a little bit better and be able to separate home life, business, you know, and personal time.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, everything else between. Yeah. That was actually going to be my next question. Any tips for small business owners as far as how to shut down uh and spend time with family?
SPEAKER_01Well, and I don't know if this is something uh nowadays it seems to be frowned on, but my key thing is, you know, church. Finding the peace, finding the peace in in my beliefs has been able to help me also be able to separate and not dwell and stress, but instead focus on what's in front of you and deal with what is in your capabilities of dealing with and whatever is out of it. Search for guidance.
SPEAKER_00I love that. Love that. So looking back, what do you attribute most of your growth to your business so far? Anything in particular?
SPEAKER_01There's multiple things. Once again, I go back to my beliefs, which is the the main the main area I'm gonna give thanks to, but I also have my key people in my life, in my daily life. I mean, I have my spouse, I have my children, I have actually one of the gentlemen I bought the business from. We are in communication daily. He's not only the person that sold me the business, but also the person that's been there with me as a friend. So I I have backing in all areas of my life, which I'm very thankful for. So that I attribute, I attribute my success to being able to have a good foundation behind me.
SPEAKER_00I love that. So when you're building a team, you know, what traits are let's say you're getting ready to hire an employee to work for you, what traits matter more to you than what's on someone's resume?
SPEAKER_01That is a very tricky question because a resume is words on paper. We like the evaluation, we like to actually see a person in action. Of course, the presentation, when they first come in and greet us and we, you know, give our questions to them, that's important. But when you actually put them on a job and watching them implement what we're teaching them, that is the important thing to us that lets us
Vacations Boundaries And Family Time
SPEAKER_01know relatively quickly is this a person that's going to be able to fit into this role or not? Because work ethic is something that you cannot teach. And that is what we require. Because you need to have pride in what you do and have a positive work ethic. The professionalism of a person is also very important because we deal with customers on a day-to-day basis, you know, and they are they're our lifeline, they are the ones that keep us, keep us afloat. So we need to make sure that everything that we do from the first day of the job to the last, that it's a professional, cordial, and uh top quality product that we give to the customer.
SPEAKER_00I love that. I love that. So, what would you say is one thing you do intentionally to keep your workplace positive, motivated, and productive, you know, especially during like a stressful time or a stressful season.
SPEAKER_01Well I think that's just me in general, I try to always present and promote a positive atmosphere. Regardless if something goes wrong, if a mistake is made, things of that nature. Anything that we do can be repaired. So I always try to back them up and let them know that it's not critical, it's not life-ending. And we always try to treat the employees like family, they are a support team. So we are we are basically a family unit. Even though it's a business, everybody that comes in that participates with Miracle Method is considered a family because we're all helping each other grow and improve.
SPEAKER_00Okay. No, I love that. I love that. All right, perfect. So, yeah, we're gonna head into what's called the quick fire round. And uh basically how this works is I'm going to give you one word, and then I want you to give me the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear each word in regards to running your business, and then expand upon it, get into a little bit more detail on why you why you said what you said. Does that make sense?
SPEAKER_01It does, but remember I'm old, so be patient with me.
SPEAKER_00All right, perfect. I I won't go too fast too fast. Um education.
SPEAKER_01Education the world we live in, we're constantly learning. So expanding our wisdom and our knowledge in everything that we do.
SPEAKER_00Next is planning.
SPEAKER_01Planning. Patience, understanding, and taking everybody into consideration.
SPEAKER_00Inspiration. God. Okay. Expand upon that a little bit. Well, you know, you've talked about it a little bit, but uh your favorite.
SPEAKER_01And he's also the one there when I feel I'm against the wall, he's the one that brings peace to my to my heart and my mind to be able to continue forward.
SPEAKER_00Commitment.
SPEAKER_01Commitment. Well, it's like I told you earlier. Commitment is basically it's a 24-7. Even though I can separate when it is needed, it is something business is always going to be in your mind. It's something that you're always gonna be thinking of how to improve, how to make it, you know, uh a better workplace for the employees and everybody else. So it's something that's constantly in me.
SPEAKER_00Discipline.
SPEAKER_01Discipline, focused, being focused on everything that everybody brings to the table, each individual person in our in our workforce family, you could say. Discipline to be a positive light for them. Also be able to teach accordingly. So there are the time management, all of that are things that kind of fall into the discipline area. Risk. Life is a risk. And I took it by the horns, and thankfully, we are successful.
SPEAKER_00And the last word is execution.
SPEAKER_01Execution. Say do what you say and say what you're gonna do.
SPEAKER_00I love that. It's true, it's true. If you wake up, you say you're gonna do something, do it and and you know, put your word behind it. Yes, sir. Uh yeah, all right, perfect, perfect. All right, so I appreciate you getting through that quick fry round. So, last couple of questions here. So, you know, and I want you to be as candidate and as honest as you can be with this answer to this next question. But, you know, let's say somebody's listening to the podcast episode today, listening to a speaker mondo, and let's say small business owners listening, let's say they're having, you know, they're feeling stuck or overwhelmed, they're not really having a great start to 2026, although we're only a couple of months in, you know, we're still getting to the meat of the year and they're not having
Hiring For Work Ethic
SPEAKER_00a great year so far. What's a piece of advice you would give to them today?
SPEAKER_01Uh never give up. Life was never meant to be easy. It's there's gonna be times of struggle, uh, times of distress, but keep your focus. Keep working. If you work hard and you're disciplined, and once again, if you have a good spiritual backing, you will be fine. It's always people that are successful are because they're constantly working towards their goal. They're not giving up, they're not quitting. So don't give up. Continue moving forward. Today may be gloomy, but tomorrow the sunshine will come.
SPEAKER_00I love that. Love that. I think that's really good words of advice. Any wise words of advice for you know other business owners who are looking to grow?
SPEAKER_01Yes. Definitely focus on what got you where you are. Because growth can be attributed to, let's just say as an example, your body. Your body's gonna grow and it's gonna perform according to how you take care of it, how you feed it. So business is no different. So if you want growth, see tap into the resources that are available that will positively impact your business. Being, you know, word of mouth advertising, I mean that to me, if your quality is there, your customers love what you the product you provide or the services you provide, they're gonna gladly speak of you. What better growth is having your neighbor tell you, oh, this guy came and did this for me and they were awesome and everything else? I mean, focus on the feedback from the people that got you where you are now.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, I like that. I like that a lot. So what's next for Miracle Method? What should people be excited about coming up in the near future for your business?
SPEAKER_01Well, Miracle Method, what's next? Growth, constant growth. But we are focusing on several products right now. One of them we've we've been implementing for a while, which is bath safety for like handicap or elderly people. That is that is one of our big focuses for us because we all have parents. We all have grandparents. And their safety, especially when they want to maintain their independence, you know, and we want to be a part of that. We
Quick Fire Leadership Principles
SPEAKER_01want to be able to keep, you know, everybody's parents, grandparents as independent and as safe as possible. So that is one great thing that we're looking towards. And in that aspect, I'll I'll kind of give you a little explanation on that. So we can actually focus on reducing heights of bathtubs to give them a lower threshold to be able to get in and out safely. But we also install grab bars so that they can hold on to them and stabilize themselves in the process of entering and exiting. And we also have applications that we apply on bottoms that are slick surfaces that can give them a slip resistance to keep them safe as well. But our new product line that we're venturing into now is actually uh refacing cabinets as well, because our focus has always been to try to keep a budget friendly option for our customers. Life is expensive as it is, so if we can save them money on replacement costs and restore. What they have, then it's a win-win for all of us.
SPEAKER_00I totally agree with that.
SPEAKER_01But nowadays, since we have the focus of being green and protecting the environment and everything else, there's another added benefit the miracle method gives. Instead of throwing all of these products into the land fields and creating more waste, you restore what you currently have.
SPEAKER_00Okay, okay. All right. And finally, what's the best way for someone to connect with you or learn more about what you do?
SPEAKER_01Well, of course, our website, which is miracle method forward slash charlotte dot com. Or you can call the office directly at our number of 704-676-4976.
SPEAKER_00Perfect. Are you currently hiring right now?
SPEAKER_01We are.
SPEAKER_00Perfect. Can you get let the folks know a little bit about what you're looking for? They you never know, you might actually find someone who might be interested.
SPEAKER_01Oh, that would be awesome.
Advice Growth Plans And Contact
SPEAKER_01So, what we're looking for is somebody that takes pride in what they do, that they are good with their hands, that they are dependable, and they have a good work ethic. We will teach everything that they need to know. If they have skills in the refinishing realm, that would be an added plus, of course. But we are looking for refinishing technicians. That would be the actual position name.
SPEAKER_00Refinishing technicians, okay. Yes, sir. All right, perfect, perfect. And they can send applications to you or at the office number that you gave, maybe call and get the email, or how should people get the resume to you?
SPEAKER_01Yes, sir. You can send, you can send the the you can call the office, and the ladies in the office will give them all their information of where to send their resumes and everything else.
SPEAKER_00Perfect. Any social media?
SPEAKER_01Yes, you have um Facebook and Instagram.
SPEAKER_00Facebook, Instagram. It's a Miracle Method, just regular, spelt out. Perfect. Yeah, Armando. Yeah, thank you so much for coming on today. This has been fantastic. Thank you for sharing your story, your perspective, and your real behind the scenes with building your business. Really was an honor talking to you today.
SPEAKER_01Well, thank you very much. It was a I really appreciate you having me and I wish you the best in your future.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you as well.